Episode 51 Eggheads

These people are amongst the greatest quiz players in Britain.

Together they make up the Eggheads,

arguably the most formidable quiz team in the country.

The question is, can they be beaten?

Welcome to Eggheads, the show where a team of five quiz challengers

pit their wit against possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain.

They are the Eggheads.

And taking on the might of our quiz Goliaths today

are Rumney High Old Boys from Cardiff.

This team of friends take their name from the football club

they helped to set up after leaving school. Let's meet them.

Hi. My name's Steve, I'm 28 and I'm an IT sales executive.

Hi. I'm Martyn, I'm 28 and I'm a mechanical engineer.

Hi. I'm Mike, I'm 28 and I'm a complaints analyst.

Hi. I'm Nicky, I'm 29 and I'm a facilities manager.

Hi. I'm Michael, I'm 28 and I'm a call centre worker.

Welcome Rumney High Old Boys.

You were pretty good at football in your time.

I've been hearing about you

going through four or five divisions, in terms of promotions.

Yes, that's right, Dermot.

We've known each other now for around about 16, 17 years.

After leaving school, decided to set up the football team

and we went from the bottom division in Cardiff to the Premier league.

Ooh! Pretty good stuff. Do you still play

or are you coaching as well now?

I think at the moment, we're all pretty much on the same level

where we've taken a step back and trying to coach the youth.

If you're as good at quizzing as you are at football,

you might do very well here today.

Let me tell you what's been going on.

Every day there's £1,000 worth of cash up for grabs

for our challengers. However, if they fail to defeat the Eggheads,

the prize-money rolls over to the next show.

Rumney High Old Boys, the Eggheads have won the last three games.

That means £4,000 says YOU can't beat the Eggheads.

Shall we start then? Hoping for Sport, I would expect. Let's see what comes up.

Our first head-to-head is not Sport, it's History.

History to kick us off. Who'd like to take this one on?

Michael?

-Michael.

-I'll have a go at History.

-It's going to be Michael.

-And which Egghead would you like to take on?

-What do you think?

-Pat?

Michael is going to take on Pat.

OK. Michael taking on Pat on History.

Right. Let's see how it goes. Both of you, into the question room.

Michael, that's to make sure you can't confer with your teammates.

Michael, I know you know the rules, but just to reiterate.

You get to choose because you're the challenger.

-Do you want to go first or second in this round?

-I think I'll go first.

First question on History then.

The British war medal instituted in 1919

features which monarch's profile?

I'm not too sure so it looks like it's going to be a guess.

I'm going to rule out Henry VIII.

And out of the other two...

-I'll go for Elizabeth I.

-OK.

OK. Elizabeth I for the British war medal.

No, I'm not sure about your thinking on that, but not Elizabeth I.

It was the man who was on the throne at the time, George V.

George V, end of the first world war, of course. The year after.

OK. Your first question, Pat. By what name

was Commonwealth Day known before 1958?

Well, I believe the Commonwealth Games

started life as the Empire games

so that should be a big clue.

-I'll go for Empire day.

-Empire day is correct. Pat, you have a lead.

Right, Michael. Let's get you started. Number two.

How old was Edward VI when he came to the English throne in 1547?

Again, I'm not too sure.

I'll rule out nine.

I think that is a bit too young.

I will go for 39, down the middle.

OK. Down the middle. 39 for Edward VI.

He didn't even live to be that old.

It's nine. OK.

Pat, an early chance

for a victory here. In what decade

did the farthing cease to be legal tender in the UK?

Well, it was gone, I think, before decimalisation.

But I don't think it's that ancient.

I'm not entirely sure.

-I think it lingered on quite a long time, so I'm going for the 1960s.

-OK.

Right at the far end of those choices.

1960s for the end of the farthing....

It's the right answer, Pat. You've taken the round.

Can anyone be precise on the year for me?

-Was it '61?

-1961. So just into the '60s.

But that's enough to get Pat

into the final round which means no place for you, Michael.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Well, Michael rather running into a brick wall there against Pat.

No joy for the Rumney High Old Boys in that one means you've lost

one brain. The Eggheads are all there.

Maybe this next subject might be more to your suiting. It's Music.

More suited to you?

Do you know who wants to take this on?

-Yeah, I'll take that one on, Dermot.

-All right, Nicky.

And who do you want to play from the Eggheads?

It can't be Pat, but any of the other four of course.

-Barry?

-Definitely.

-I'll take Barry on.

-OK.

It's Nicky versus Barry on Music.

Could you both please go to the question room to ensure there is no conferring?

OK, then, Nicky. Right. Let's get you through, shall we?

Choose a set. First or second?

I'd like to go first, please.

OK. First question coming your way, Nicky.

Ricky Valance topped the UK singles chart in 1960

with the song featuring

which girl's name in the title?

I'm not too sure with this one, to be honest.

I don't know, but I'm going to rule out Lavinia.

And take a guess at Lucy.

It's not. Let me check with some of the Eggheads there.

Well, Barry, you might just about remember.

Of course, Ricky could have spent his farthings then,

I guess, in 1960. Who was he singing about?

Well, I would tell Laura I loved her.

Ah. OK. Now I know the song.

Yep, it is Laura. Laura, Nicky.

So, Barry, first question.

The 1970s group The Bay City Rollers

were often seen wearing large amounts of which fabric?

That's a fine question to ask up in Glasgow. They wore tartan.

Yes, The Bay City Rollers bedecked...

Well, not entirely bedecked,

but a lot of tartan about them. It's the right answer.

OK, Nicky, second question.

Harry, Liam, Louis,

Niall and Zayn became famous as members of which boy band?

Well, as a fan of the X Factor I think I should get this right.

I think it's One Direction.

One Direction is the right answer. You're on the board.

So, Barry, what was the title of Dave Dee, Dozy, Beakie, Mick

and Tich's single that reached the number two spot

in the UK in 1968?

I think I vaguely remember this.

I'm pretty certain it was called Bend It!

I suppose it's better than the other two.

It is the right answer. I'm not going to say their name again.

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beakie, Mick and Tich. Bit of a tongue twister.

Well, you have two and Nicky has one,

which means Nicky, you need to get this.

Which American entertainer had US hits in the 1940s

with the songs Buttons And Bows, The Gypsy and Blues In The Night?

Again, it's not really my type of music.

I'm going to go straight down the middle, the one I've heard of,

-Rosemary Clooney.

-Rosemary Clooney.

Of course, the aunt of George.

Rosemary Clooney there, the one you've heard of,

presumably because of that family connection. But it's not.

It is... Barry, do you know?

I'm not sure. Is it Connie Stevens?

I'm not going to ask the other Eggheads. That's not right either.

You thought it was Dinah Shore as well, did you, Daphne?

No. I thought it was Rosemary Clooney.

It's Dinah Shore, to confirm that. Buttons And Bows,

Gypsy and Blues In The Night.

Which means the blues now surrounding

the Rumney High Old Boys.

Nicky deprived of a place in the final round by Barry.

Would you both please come back and join your teams.

So far, Rumney High Old Boys,

it seems like you've run into the Eggheads regaining a bit of their old swagger here.

Not going so well for you. You've lost two brains from the final round.

The Eggheads are all there.

So best efforts now to get rid of one of them.

I know in your heads, you're thinking,

"We're trying. We are trying."

I know you are. Next subject is Science.

Three of you left eligible for this,

Steve, Martyn or Mike.

-It's your call.

-Martyn?

Who would you like to take on?

CJ? Chris?

I'll take on CJ, please.

Martyn from Rumney High Old Boys and CJ from the Eggheads.

To ensure you don't confer with your teammates,

would you please take your positions in the question room?

Martyn, you get to choose, as you know.

Do you want to go first or second?

I'm going to go second this time.

CJ in there then. CJ, first question. In agriculture,

what name is given to an airtight structure

in which animal fodder is stored?

Well, they're all containers, but this one's a silo.

Silo.

Also where you keep nuclear missiles as well

should you be that way inclined.

Probably not alongside the wheat.

Silo is correct.

And your first question, Martyn. What type of creature

is the cotton pest the boll weevil?

I've got an inkling that it is one of them so...

I can confirm that!

I'm going to rule out the beetle.

I think I'm going to go with spider.

OK, spider for the boll weevil.

It is one of them and it's the one you ruled out. It is the beetle,

the boll weevil. Bad luck.

It's been happening to you,

I think, in every round so far.

Rumney High Old Boys not getting the first question right.

It's a bit of a handicap to deal with and going second means

you might face a 2-0 lead from the Eggheads.

CJ, what word does the letter X

represent in the name of the computer language XML?

Another computer language I haven't heard of.

This is Barry's field not mine.

-XML.

-Yes.

If we're assuming the L stands for language...

Um... Exhaustive?

Exact? Extensible?

You could see it standing for extensible,

but why not extendable or something?

-I don't know. I'll just guess at exact.

-OK. Exact.

Well, let's check with Barry who's thumping his head with his hand.

I suspect Barry's going to tell us it's not that.

No, it's Extensible Markup Language.

Extensible Markup Language.

You were right about the L, CJ. Some compensation there.

-Sorry, Barry, you were going to say?

-It's a souped-up

version of HTML which is the main language for writing websites.

Souped-up version of HTML. Thank you for explaining that to us.

XML, the X for extensible.

Well, a chance then

to get level pegging here, to get upside CJ, Martyn.

Your second question. Which of the five

main senses is most affected by anosmia?

A-N-O-S-M-I-A.

Anosmia.

I think I'm going to go with smell.

Smell...

is the right answer. Yes.

Well, it's all square which is

great news for the Rumney High Old Boys.

Now you need to get ahead though.

So you've got to hope CJ doesn't get this.

Over 70% of the world's platinum production, CJ,

takes place in which country?

I'm trying to remember. I think I just read this fairly recently.

I read a lovely book on the elements.

I'm just trying to remember this.

There's an awful lot of...

..what you may consider unusual mineral deposits

and metal deposits in South America.

I don't think it's South Africa.

I'm not sure why, but simply because there is such a preponderance

-of precious metals in South America, I'll try Venezuelan.

-OK.

Periodic tales. Obviously didn't get to the chapter on platinum then.

And it's not Russia, CJ.

It's the last one. It's South Africa.

South Africa with 70% of the world's platinum production. Well...

this could be a remarkable turnaround.

You got your first one wrong. CJ got his right.

But he stumbled with his last two

and the chance for a place in the final round with this, Martyn.

What is the scientific name for the process by which a cell

such as a white blood cell or amoeba

ingests or engulfs other cells or particles?

It's quite a tough one.

I'm go to go...

I think I'm going to go with meiosis.

Yep.

OK. Meiosis there for engulfing or ingesting another cell or particle.

Are you going to do that to CJ?

No, you're not. It's incorrect. Eggheads, do we know?

-Phagocytosis.

-Phagocytosis.

-Phagocytosis.

Phago means eating.

-Phago meaning eating.

-Yes.

-I see. From the Greek?

-Yes.

The Eggheads knew their Greek and it was all Greek to Martyn.

So it means we go to sudden death for the first time.

Sudden death, still very much in it, Martyn, but it becomes harder

because we can't offer you any options in sudden death.

And CJ, your question. The Long March 3A,

a carrier rocket used to launch satellites into orbit is part

of the space programme of which country?

I haven't heard of it, but the Long March took place in China,

so I'll guess at China.

Yes, China. That's presumably why it's so named.

You have the lead again. And Martyn,

for what does the letter C stand in the abbreviation CMB,

the discovery made by the scientists Penzias and Wilson

in the 1960s that lent support to The Big Bang Theory?

The only thing I can really think of is probably going to be combustion.

-Is that your answer?

-Yeah, I'll go with combustion.

Combustion, big bangs, things burnt up there.

Well, probably not in space with the lack of oxygen.

It's not combustion.

Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation.

We've got it from Barry. Just say it again.

-Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation.

-Yes.

It's Cosmic Microwave Background so the C is for cosmic there, Martyn.

So close but I'm afraid you have fallen as well.

Not into the final round. CJ's just made it in there.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Well, getting closer, I feel, but still not broken through,

still not knocked an Egghead out yet.

The Rumney High Old Boys have lost three brains.

So your last chance now to get rid of one of them.

The category I think you were hoping for Sport comes up right now.

So, two players available.

Steve or Mike.

-Yeah, I'll do Sport.

-You do Sport.

It's Chris or Daphne there waiting for you.

I'll take Chris, please.

-Chris.

-Lucky for you, I'm right out of thunderbolts today.

LAUGHTER

OK. Let's have Mike and Chris into the question room, please.

Mike, now, do you want to go first or second?

I'll go second, please, Dermot.

Chris, first question. What name is commonly given

to the short trial, the initial stage of the modern Tour de France,

that has often been used to decide who wears the yellow jersey

during stage one?

Well, the overture is the start of an opera.

Prologue is the start of a play.

We're talking France and the start of anything, c'est le commencement.

-So that's what I'll go with. Commencement.

-OK. Commencement.

-No, it's not.

-Oh.

-It is the prologue.

OK. Well...

Good start then for you, potentially, Mike.

Let's see if you benefit from that failure by Chris with this one.

A barbell is an item of equipment in which Olympic sport?

I'd be very surprised if it was volleyball

so I'll rule that one out straight away.

I've never heard it associated with sailing,

so I'm going to go for weightlifting.

It might be a bit of an impediment on your boat, wouldn't it?

Have a couple of barbells. Maybe handicap them.

Absolutely, well done. You have the lead. Weightlifting is correct.

Well done, Mike.

Chris, Levante is a football team from which country?

This is awkward. It wouldn't be Ukraine because they speak Russian.

Er...

Does it mean get up in Spanish or is it a reference

to the Levant in terms of the eastern Mediterranean?

Um...

Levante.

Si...

Yeah, we'll go with Spain.

Is the right answer. Yes, Spain. Well done.

And you're still in it.

But a lead beckons again if you can get this, Mike.

It might suit you this one. Apart from South Africa,

which was the only African nation

to compete at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand?

Being Welsh I should know this one cos they actually played Wales.

That's Namibia, Dermot.

Nice and easy for you. It's the right answer. Yes.

It means Chris needs to get this.

The 24 hours of Le Mans sports car race

starts at roughly what time of day?

Ah. Well, it wouldn't start at midnight.

I've seen film of the famous Le Mans start where they run to their cars

and it's full daylight, so it's not dawn, so it must be mid-afternoon.

Well worked out. Yes, it's the right answer.

So, clinging on in there after getting

his Tour de France question wrong.

We returned to France for that and he got that correct.

He does go out though, if you get this, Mike.

In the 1950s, the 3W's

was a collective name given to the cricketers

Clyde Walcott, Frank Worrell and which other Barbadian batsmen?

I'll be honest, Dermot, I'm not too sure at all.

So I'm going to take a complete stab in the dark at Chester Watson.

A stab in the dark at Chester Watson to complete the trio of Ws,

the 3Ws. Well, Walcott, Worrell and...

Weekes. Everton Weekes.

So, we go to sudden death.

Chris, Nova Peris-Kneebone

represented which country at hockey and athletics?

I've heard of a Kneebone's Cafe somewhere.

Australia, I think.

Yeah, we'll go with Australia.

It's the right answer!

-You've heard of a Kneebone's Cafe?

-Kneebone's Cafe somewhere, yes.

I mean, what... In what...

I don't know. It just rings a bell.

Probably one of Bill Bryson's books.

Right. Somehow Chris dredging that up.

Not sure if there's any connection but got it anyway.

Australia's what we needed to hear and we did.

So, Mike, turnaround from the last time you faced a question.

You were facing the question for a place in the final round.

This to maintain your place in this head-to-head.

The Austrian footballer Karl Rappan

had four spells from the late 1930s to the 1960s

as manager of which national side?

I've never heard of that gentleman before in my life,

so this is going to be a stab in the dark again.

Austria...

Hungary were a pretty good side. I'll go Hungary,

just because they were a pretty good force back then.

OK. And of course, those links between Austria

and Hungary for so many hundreds of years.

But it's not Hungary. Any Egghead know?

-Germany?

-No. Switzerland.

'37, '38, '42, '49, '53, '54 and '60, '63, Karl Rappan.

And that is an incredible turnaround in Chris's fortunes.

Got his first question wrong, was looking at ejection,

but turned the tables and it's Mike who's gone from the final round.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Well, now this is what we've been playing towards.

Time for the final round which as always is General Knowledge.

But I'm afraid those of you who lost your head-to-heads will not

be allowed to take part in this round.

So, Martyn, Mike, Nicky and Michael, from the Rumney High Old Boys

would you leave the studio, please?

So, Steve, you're playing to win the Rumney High Old Boys £4,000.

CJ, Daphne, Chris, Barry and Pat,

you're playing for something which money cannot buy,

the Eggheads' reputation.

And as usual, I ask each team three questions in turn.

The questions are all General Knowledge

and you are allowed to confer.

So, Steve, the question is,

is your one brain better than the Eggheads' five?

Steve, do you want to go first or second?

I think I shall go first.

Well, good luck, Steve. First question coming your way right now.

The Kerguelen Islands that are located in the Indian Ocean

belong to which European country?

I will spell them for you.

They are spelt K-E-R-G-U-E-L-E-N.

The Kerguelen Islands that are located in the Indian Ocean

belong to which European country?

OK, Dermot. I'm not 100% sure on the answer.

I know through links that

Great Britain, the United Kingdom, had quite strong links with India.

Being in the Indian Ocean, I think my option is going to be the UK.

OK, the UK for the Kerguelen Islands.

Eggheads, what do you think?

-France.

-It is France.

They are French overseas territory.

Now the Eggheads' first question.

Eggheads, which prize for painting and sculpture

was inaugurated in 2008 and won in 2011 by Henrietta Simpson?

-Anybody heard of it?

-The Cornhill prize rings a bell.

-The Threadneedle prize rings a bell.

-I thought that.

I thought I'd heard of the Threadneedle,

That's the only one I've heard of.

CHRIS: It's not the Aldwych Prize.

The only thing I'd say is that Cornhill are a big insurance company

who have sponsored cricket and stuff in the past. That's all.

I haven't heard of the prize though.

I'd be prepared to go with one of Pat's slight inkles

-over one of my certainties.

-If people have heard of the Threadneedle prize

-then that would be...

-I don't know. I've got doubts.

I can't place it. I just thought...

-BARRY:

-Shall we take a vote?

-Who's for Cornhill then?

-Democracy in action on the Eggheads!

-Are you for Cornhill?

-Well, I'm neutral.

-No, no. If we're having a vote, you've got to vote.

-All right.

-Are you voting Cornhill?

-Yes.

-That's three to two.

-CHRIS:

-If it's wrong, it's wrong.

We've never heard of them

but on a majority vote were going to go for the Cornhill Prize.

OK. The Cornhill Prize.

Interesting, very interesting, those discussions.

Those that had a feeling went for the Threadneedle Prize

but were outvoted. CJ saying that his strong feeling

outdone by an inkling from Pat.

Well, the inkling...

is wrong.

It is the Threadneedle Prize.

Strong feelings, but interesting to see. Democracy in action.

As you said, if it's wrong, it's wrong.

But if it's right, it's right. It doesn't matter who knows it.

That's great news for you, Steve.

It's almost like we're starting again.

Forget those first couple of questions. It's all square.

Second question for you.

Which museum opened in Manchester in 2002

in a building designed by the architect Daniel Libeskind?

OK. I can't say, personally, that I've heard of any work

that stands out by that particular architect.

Um...

The Lowry I have heard of

which makes me think perhaps I would have heard of that architect.

So, I think I might rule the Lowry out on this particular question.

Imperial War Museum North...

National Media Museum, Manchester...

I know Manchester over the last decade or so

has invested quite a lot into

media, technology, commercialisation.

I think on this, my instinct would be to go for the National Media Museum.

OK. National Media Museum

and rightly identifying

what a media city it has become, Manchester. But...

it is the Imperial War Museum North.

It is the Imperial War Museum North

by Daniel Libeskind, the building.

So, nothing there again. What about the Eggheads? Second question.

Following restoration in 1978, how tall are each of the letters

that make up the famous Hollywood sign in California?

-BARRY:

-Not as tall as you may think.

I'd go for 45.

-I moderately surprised at that as well.

-Yeah.

-It's not that big a thing, actually.

-45 is about 13.5 metres.

-PAT:

-Seven tall men stacked up. Seems like a lot.

I'm actually moderately surprised it's that tall.

I'd certainly go for 45.

OK. 45 feet.

OK. 45 feet.

Seven tall men stacked up. That's a good way of thinking about it.

Quite tall enough. It's the right answer.

The Eggheads work it out there with common sense

rather than knowledge. But, yes,

they have a lead and it's potentially a winning lead

if you don't get this.

So best of luck with it, Steve. Who won an Academy award

for the Best Actress in a leading role

for the 1962 film The Miracle Worker?

OK. This particular film is not one that I've seen myself.

So it's going to be quite difficult.

The name out of the three that's standing out for me

is Joan Crawford. Erm...

Whether that is the correct answer is the problem.

I think that...

I think I shall go for Joan Crawford.

Joan Crawford for Academy Award for Best Actress in 1962.

-It's not. Eggheads, do you know?

-EGGHEADS: Anne Bancroft.

Anne Bancroft. And that means, Eggheads, you've won.

-Tough questions there, Steve.

-Very.

I thought you did well with your analysis on the Manchester one.

Very tough.

But obviously you didn't know it was the Imperial War Museum North.

Good to see you. Thank you very much for taking the Eggheads on.

But they've done what comes naturally

and they still reign supreme over quiz land.

You won't be going home with the £4,000. That means the money

rolls over to our next show. Eggheads, congratulations.

Who will beat you?

Join us next time to see if a new team of challengers

have the brains to defeat the Eggheads.

£5,000 says they don't. Until then, goodbye.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd